Manipur, IMPHAL, August 24: Following several complaints from the public and subsequent failure of the authorities to take up necessary action regarding misappropriation and misuse of funds released under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee (MGNREG) schemes, a PIL has been filed in the Imphal Bench, Gauhati High Court.
In a writ petition pleading and seeking an appropriate response against serious allegations regarding MGNREG schemes and the respondents were directed to comply or file affidavit-in-opposition within six (6) weeks from the date of order in a an order dated 23 August 2012 of the High Court.
The petitioner, Nunglepam Pusparani Devi, aged 47 years, w/o Y Mangi Singh, a resident of Luwangsangbam Mayai Leikai, under Heingang Police Station of Imphal East District also prayed for directing the Central Bureau of Investigation, CBI to register First Information Report, FIR cases and investigate the matter thoroughly.
Despite sanctioning and releasing huge amount of money for implementation of various schemes in the State of Manipur under MGNREG schemes, maximum amount of the funds were misappropriated by the implementaing agencies without executing any works, the petitioner claimed.
During the year 2011-2012, the Government of India sanctioned and released more than Rs 37,82,68,000/- for implementing various schemes in the state and guarantee employment to the poor rural households to do unskilled manual works.
The petioner further pointed out that not only a sum of Rs 11,00,000 (eleven) lakhs meant for the work of Land Development at Liberal College, Luwangsangbam and several other huge amounts were misappropriated without any execution of works by the implementing authority.
It may be recalled, the National Rural Employment Guarantee, NREG Act which was enacted in the year 2005 for implementing various schemes in the entire Union of India has been ameneded as the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Gurantee Act in the year 2009.
The Ministry of Rural Development issued the Operational guidelines for implementation of the schemes under the Act, while the Union Minister, Rural Development ensured last year, 2011 that all irregularities in the utilization of MGNREG funds will be entrusted to the CBI.
